The Law Society of Hong Kong has signed co-operation deals with counterparts in Qatar during the ongoing visit to the country and Kuwait led by Chief Executive John Lee.

The group signed memoranda of understanding with the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration and the Qatar Lawyers Association at a high-level business luncheon on Monday.

“The Law Society of Hong Kong has always valued the development of cooperative relationships with our counterparts in the Middle East," said president Roden Tong.

Tong said Qatar's per-capita GDP was US$71,000 last year, the highest among six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council while its total trade turnover with Hong Kong was US$1.6 billion, indicating a huge market potential.

He said the agreement with the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration will help establish a regular exchange mechanism and promote an effective resolution of cross-border commercial disputes involving Hong Kong, the mainland and the Gulf state.

He also said the society's agreement with the Qatar Lawyers Association will allow the two parties to explore opportunities for cooperation in future.

Looking ahead, Tong said the society is actively seeking to sign an MOU with the Investment and Trade Court of the State of Qatar to establish a regular communication mechanism.